This could soon be how one of the city’s most famous beauty spots looks, as long-awaited plans for a river-front area with new bars, shops, and restaurants are revealed.

The area around the mill pool in Mill Lane is currently a favourite summer spot, with picnickers and punters sitting out in Laundress Green. Some of the city’s best pubs can also be found in the area.

But now, the University of Cambridge has unveiled its plans to turn the area into an even more vibrant city destination, with new buildings and public squares enclosing a public shopping and dining zone in Mill Lane.

An overview of how the area could look

The plans, which are currently out for public consultation, show an ambitious new look for the area, with emphasis on public access to the riverside.

Since 2014, the University of Cambridge has been working with Darwin, Pembroke and Queens’ Colleges to develop a masterplan to regenerate this quarter of the city.

Dr Jason Matthews, Director of Estates Strategy at the university, said the new riverfront would provide: “a vibrant place for people to meet and exchange, with hand-picked restaurants and cafes set against the backdrop of the Cam.”

The area is already a popular spot

The site masterplan says the intention is to put priority on cycle access and pedestrian areas, and that, wherever possible, river-front premises would be opened up for “retail and leisure opportunities, envisaged as food and drink venues”.

The plans are now available for the public to feed back on

The masterplan shows shops and restaurants opening onto public squares

According to the university the area has the potential to become an “iconic” gateway to the city.

A spokesman said: “As part of its larger vision, the University of Cambridge is improving both public access and public space across all of its sites in the city centre. Old Press/Mill Lane has the potential to become an iconic gateway into both the core of Cambridge and the University itself, seamlessly blending public realm with academic land use while connecting University sites with the city.”

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The university spokesman added: “Additional public realm will allow residents and visitors to enjoy the Mill Pond like never before.

The masterplan lays out how the public realm along the river front could look

“The development will complement the industrial history of the site to enhance the area’s character. Access will be improved to transform movement across the site, prioritising walking and cycling to ensure the riverfront setting is both safely accessible and enforces the site’s historic roots."

People can now have their say on the plans

Scudamore’s punt operators, who recently had plans for expanded punt stations at the Mill pond approved by Cambridge City Council, remain in the area, with railings that currently block off part of the Scudamore’s yard being removed to open the area out. There are also plans for student accommodation, and a new “publicly accessible performance and gallery space”.